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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that he is contemplating staying in management much longer than he originally anticipated.
Guardiola, who turns 50 this month, has previously said that he was not planning a long career because he has other interests in life that he wishes to pursue.
But, after recently extending his contract at Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2023, Guardiola now admits that he still feels that retirement is a long way off.
“Experience helps you, especially in the way I live my profession,” said the Spaniard, who has won 29 major trophies in a brilliant managerial career that also includes spells by Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Guardiola is in his fifth season as Manchester City manager
“Before, I thought I would retire soon. Now I think I will retire older. So, I don’t know.”
Guardiola is now in his fifth season at City, making it his longest term in management after three years at Barça and four at Bayern.
Their eight trophies with the club include two Premier League victories and they are bidding to launch another title run after a slow start to the current campaign.
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City are undefeated in their last six Premier League games before Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.
With the top end of the table tight, Guardiola sees this year’s race as the most open of his time in England.
Guardiola said: “If you think about what [can] will happen in january, february – both games [in hand]We can lose these two games and anything can happen.
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“So in the Premier League, every game is very difficult and it’s better to be calm. The real Premier League, the people I spoke to before landing here, said that everyone can lose to everyone. I didn’t see this until now.
“Now is the first time I’ve seen in the Premier League, a team can lose or win seven, and after the draw, and after losing. The results are unpredictable.”
Among this season’s rivals is archrival Manchester United, who City will face in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup next week.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team has rejuvenated in recent weeks, ignoring the disappointment of a Champions League exit to improve on the home front.
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“Ole is happier than I am,” said Guardiola, whose preparations have been affected by five positive tests for Covid-19 among his players over the Christmas period.
“But I’m not very concerned about United. I’m very busy with what we have to do and what we can do with the players and the exceptional people we have in the back room to move forward.”
“They are there because they deserve it. Since I arrived I expected them to be there all the time. Sometimes in the last season it has not been possible, especially in the Premier League, but it is there.”
City will be left without the five players who tested positive, who are now all isolated at Stamford Bridge.
Two of them are known in Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus, but the other three, whose test results forced Monday’s game at Everton to be postponed, have yet to be named.
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